Maddox to resign from Fort Smith board of directors

Fort Smith City Director Bill Maddox has announced he will retire from the board Dec. 31, 2010.

Maddox cited his wife’s retirement and travel to help family as reasons for the resignation.

“Please add the position of Ward 4 Director to be voted on this year. My wife is planning to retire in 2011 and in that event we will be leaving Fort Smith for a time to assist in the care of family members. Therefore I will end my tenure on the board effective December 31, 2010. I chose to leave my position at this time in order for a replacement to be elected during a regular election cycle. I do not want to create a need for a special election which is costly to the City,” Maddox noted in an e-mail note to Assistant City Clerk Sherri Gard. (The City Wire has sought an interview with Maddox. We will update this post with info from the interview.)

Maddox served on the board between 1982-1988. He returned in 2004 after defeating incumbent Joe Davis, and ran unopposed in 2008.

Maddox will step down with two years remaining in the four-year term, which may require a special election or the two-year term may be placed on the November ballot with the other municipal races (mayor and three at-large positions).

Gard said attorneys for the city are reviewing the rules to see what legal steps are required. (The City Wire will update this post when that info is released.) Gard said the board must formally accept the resignation before it is official. A resolution could be before the board as early as the Feb. 16 regular board meeting, Gard said.

The filing period for the mayor and three city director-at-large positions begins May 12 and ends June 1. Gard said candidate petition packets are available in the city clerk’s office (623 Garrison Ave., room 303). Candidate requirements are:
• Must be city residents for at least six months;
• Must be 21 years old;
• Must be a registered voter in the city;
• Must file a “statement of candidacy” that includes at least 50 signatures of registered voters; and,
• Pay a $10 filing fee.

The primary election for municipal races is Aug. 10, and the general election is Nov. 2.